Races in the Warcraft universe

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This is an alphabetical list with the major and minor races in the Warcraft universe — a fictional universe in which a series of games and books are set.

Although some of the races and creatures have been featured in earlier Warcraft games, most make their first appearance in the MMORPG World of Warcraft.

Look also: http://www.wowwiki.com/Race

Beasts

These races are non-humanoid races and creatures with major roles. They are the first enemies you will encounter in World of Warcraft.

Animals

Various kinds of animals inhabit Azeroth. Most of them only appear in World of Warcraft, though some (such as bears, wolves, horses and spiders) appear in earlier Warcraft games too. Some of them are tamable by the Hunter character class in World of Warcraft while others are used as mounts.

Bats

Unlike their earthly counterparts, the bats of Azeroth are large, herbivorous flying mammals, primarily found in dark places inhabited by undead, such as Tirisfal Glades, and the Eastern and Western Plaguelands. Tamable as a Hunter's pet, they have the special ability called Screech. They are also used as the Horde's main flying mount for the Eastern Kingdoms continent. In Warcraft III, Orcs have a weak flying unit called Troll Batrider.

• Featured In: World of Warcraft
• Habitat: Temperate Forests, Subteranean Lairs
• Subspecies: Bloodseeker, Frenzied Bloodseeker, Greater Kraul, Kraul, Noxious, Shrike, Vile
• Tamable: Yes
• Type: Horde Flying Mount, Mob - Aggressive
• Range: Duskwood, Tirisfal Glades, and the Western and Eastern Plaguelands.

Bears

Large omnivorous mammals, dwelling in temperate forests and mountains of both continents. Bears are tamable by Hunters and can be found in Loch Modan, The Arathi Highlands, The Stonetalon Mountains, and Darkshore. A notorious Half-Ogre Half-Orc Rexxar the Beastmaster was in a close relationship with a bear called Misha.

Boars

These tusked pigs are wide-spread omnivores. Preferring mountainous or forest terrains they can be found in Elwynn Forest, The Redridge Mountains, and Durotar. As a Hunter's pet, they have the Boar Charge skill.

Canines

Wolves, worgs and coyotes are some of the most common carnivores in Azeroth. Worgs are often tamed and used as mounts by Orcs. As a Hunter's pet, they have the Furious Howl skill. In Warcraft III, Raiders and Far Seers ride worgs.

Carrion Birds

These carnivorous birds look like vultures with long caudal feathers. The are often found in Westfall, The Badlands, and The Barrens.

Crawlers

These omnivorous giant crabs inhabit the shores of many parts of Azeroth. Most are neutral mobs that do not attack adventurers unless provoked and they are the only tamable creature in World of Warcraft that does not have a rare-spawning mob.

Crocolisks

Crocodile-like carnivorous reptiles, found in rivers and lakes. They are six feet long and have 6 legs. Crocolisks are related to basilisks. Crocolisks can be most commonly found in The Wetlands or Dustwallow Marsh.

Although Crocolisks can be tamed by a hunter, they are not a common hunter pet.

Felines

Lions and tigers, leopards and cougars. Cat-like carnivores can be found in any place of Azeroth. Night Elves have tamed a species called Nightsabre, now used as mount. In Warcraft III, the Priestess of the Moon and the Huntresses ride Nightsabres. As a Hunter's pet, they have Prowl skill.

Fleshbeasts

It is said that the sleep of reason produces monsters, that fantasy abandoned by sanity brings forth creatures of nightmare. For most, the horrors of their sleeping hours cannot follow them into the waking world; yet some are haunted by them even long after the veils of sleep have parted. The mindless fleshbeasts were brought into this world by Medivh, summoned from some unspeakable place beyond. Once, the wizard used the fleshbeasts in his clandestine experiments within the laboratories of Karazhan. Medivh is gone, but the slavering, hungering creatures of his twisted nightmares still remain, forever stalking the gloomy shadows of Karazhan.

Gorillas

These huge herbivorous apes live in the tropical regions of Azeroth. As a Hunter's pet, they have the Thunderstomp skill. Gorillas are most commonly found in Stranglethorn Vale or Feralas.

Horses

Humans use horses as mounts and pack animals. The Undead use undead horses as mounts. And the Warlock class learns to summon some demon Horses called Felsteed/Dreadsteed. In Warcraft III, Knights and Archmages ride horses, while Death Knights ride skeletal horses.

Hyenas

Although they drop items similar to those dropped by wolves, hyenas are a distinct species and cannot use Furious Howl as a hunter's pet. They have yet to receive a species ability, although it is hoped that it will be added in a future patch. Hyenas are sometimes used as guard animals by the Centaur as well as members of the Scarlet Crusade.

Kodo

Kodo are very large creatures that are hunted and respected by the Tauren. They are either mammals or reptiles, and bear a heavy resemblance to a Brontothere crossed with a dinosaur, though in terms of behaviour they are more reminiscent of elephants. Kodo travel Mulgore in packs of a Matriarch with her calves, and sometimes a bull or two; in contrast, bulls can usually be seen as rogues in the northern barrens and seen in packs in the southern barrens. Tamed Kodo are used as pack animals in caravans to haul trade goods and to carry wardrums. A smaller breed has been used as mounts, mainly for the Tauren. The tauren chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof gave the orcs, led by Thrall, a number of kodos as a reward for helping them fight the centaurs. Since then, the orcs adorn them with drums and ride them to war. Some fel orcs have been seen riding chaos kodo beasts in Outland, though it is unknown how they obtained these beasts.

It is possible the name comes from the Japanese word kodo, meaning drum. It is also possible that the name is derived from Komodo Dragon.

Owls

Hunters of the night, these birds inhabit Teldrassil, Ashenvale forest and Felwood. Night Elves sometimes tame them and use them as scouts. In Warcraft III, the Priestess of the Moon can summon Owl Scouts. They also have the Screech ability.

Rams

These herbivores are commonly found in Dun Morogh and Loch Modan in the central Eastern Kingdoms. They are often tamed by Dwarves, and are their primary racial mount.

Salamanders

Salamanders are very similar to Thunder Lizards in appearance, though they have red or blue scales instead of green. Instead of lightning, salamanders spit fire.

Scorpids

These carnivores look like giant scorpions. As a Hunter's pet, they have the Scorpid Poison skill. Preferring arid desert climates they are most commonly encountered in Desolace, The Badlands, Tanaris, and Silithus. They are related to the insect-like Silithids and therefore also related to the arachnid Nerubians of Northrend.

Silithids

A race previously unknown to those of Lordaeron, Azeroth, and Kalimdor, little information is available on the Silithid. They appear as gigantic insectoids of several sizes and shapes. They exist in large numbers in Silithus, southern Kalimdor, but also have hives in Tanaris, Un'Goro Crater and Feralas. They are directly related to the Nerubians' overlords, the Qiraji. There is an ancient wall in southern Silithus named The Scarab Wall, behind which lies the Qiraji and their Silithid minions inside two instances: The Temple of Ahn'Qiraj (40-man) and Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj (20-man).

The Night Elves, under Archdruid Fandral Staghelm, fought a war against the Silithids many years prior to the emergence of the first humans. The Night Elves were on the edge of defeat, losing their outpost of Southwind Village and Staghelm's son in the process, and retreating westward, when they discovered that the Silithids were hesitant to go past Fire Plume Ridge in Un'goro Crater. Staghelm took this respite to attempt to enlist the help of the dragonflights. However, they only agreed when the Silithids brazenly attacked the Caverns of Time, the home of the Bronze Dragonflight. With the sacrifice of the children of the red, blue, and green aspects, Staghelm and the Bronze Dragonflight was able to seal the Silithids behind the Scarab Wall. Anachronos, as the representative of the Bronze Dragonflight, offered Staghelm the Scepter of the Shifting Sands, the artifact required to reopen the gate to Ahn'Qiraj, but he refused it, instead hurling it at the wall, shattering it.

The Trolls, however, have an extensive knowledge on the ancestors of the Silithids, the Aqir.

Spiders

Unlike their relatives in the real world, spiders of Azeroth are large, savage eight-legged carnivores. They exist in varying sizes, from roughly the size of a basketball to monstrosities that are as large as a house. Spiders can come in a hairy, venom-spitting variety or a hairless web throwing kind. Spiders are tamable by Hunters and usually prefer temperate forests or subterranean lairs but some varieties prefer volcanic environments.

• Featured In: World of Warcraft
• Habitat: Temperate Forests, Subterranean Lairs, Lava Fields
• Subspecies: Darkfang, Darkmist, Forest, Giant Darkfang, Giant Webwood, Glassweb, Greater Lava, Mine, Night Web, Pygmy Venom Web, Searing Lava, Spire, Venom Web, Webwood, Viscious Night Web, and Young Night Web
• Tamable: Yes
• Type: Mob - Aggressive
• Range: Elwynn Forest, Duskwood, The Wetlands, The Alterac Mountains, The Stonetalon Mountains, Teldrassil, Tirisfal Glades, The Redridge Mountains, Loch Modan, The Searing Gorge, and the Western and Eastern Plaguelands.

Tallstriders

Huge flightless omnivorous birds, with long necks and legs, and heavy crested beaks. They bear a striking resemblance to prehistoric emus or ostriches. They are only found in Kalimdor.

• Featured In: World of Warcraft
• Habitat: Plains, Savanna, Coastal Regions
• Subspecies: None
• Tamable: Yes
• Type: Mob - Aggressive
• Range: The Barrens, Darkshore

Thunder Lizards

Probably related to the kodo, thunder lizards are giant reptiles with an appearance of a cross between a rhinoceros and a stegosaur, complete with thagomizer-like spikes. They are wide spread in The Barrens as well as Desolace, although the biggest population known is in Thunder Ridge, in Durotar. Despite their horns and spikes, which can also be used as lethal weapons, thunder lizards use their magical or natural power in combat, this ability allows them to emit deadly bolts of lightning from their mouth. The largest thunder lizards are called Storm Wyrms.

Turtles

Huge omnivorous reptiles living in wet areas. As a Hunter's pet, they have the Shell Shield skill. Naga use the large Dragon Turtles as tanks in the Warcraft III expansion. Giant sea turtles were also bred and trained by the Horde during the second war Warcraft II to combat Gnomish Submarines. One of the most common creatures in Azeroth, turtles can be found in The Redridge Mountains, The Barrens, Stranglethorn Vale, The Alterac Mountains, The Hinterlands, Dustwallow Marsh, The Shimmering Flats, Blackfathom Deeps, and Tanaris.

Winged Serpents

These rare omnivorous creatures look like a cross between a snake and a bird. As a Hunter's pet, they have the Lightning Breath skill. These creatures are easily found in The Barrens, Feralas, and Thousand Needles. They are most probably related to the Troll blood god, Hakkar.

Zhevras

These herbivores bear the black and white stripes of a zebra (as can be told by the name). However, a significant difference is a horn situated on their foreheads which looks a lot like that of unicorns. The only place in the Warcraft universe they can be found is on plains of The Barrens.

• Featured In: World of Warcraft
• Habitat: Plains, Savanna
• Subspecies: Charger, Courser, Runner
• Tamable: No
• Type: Mob - Passive
• Range: The Barrens

Chimaeras

Two-headed, winged beasts, native to Kalimdor. They use their terrible breath and ability to spit poison at the enemy to fight anyone who would defile their lands. In Warcraft III, they fight on the side of the Night Elves. Surely based on Chimeras. Similar to wyverns.

Gryphons

Wild animals with the body of lions and the head and front legs of eagles. The savage creatures are native to Aerie Peaks and are employed as mounts by the brave Dwarves of the Wildhammer Clan, who have developed a close bond with the mighty beasts. During the Second War (Warcraft II), Gryphon Riders became the flying warriors of the Alliance, often facing the Horde's enslaved Red Dragons. In the World of Warcraft MMORPG, they are the main flying mount for the Alliance on the Eastern Kingdoms.

Hippogryphs

Hippogryphs are ancient, magical beasts who resemble Gryphons in build. They have the hind quarters of a horse, the front part of a raven, and the antlers of a stag. They patrol the skies above Kalimdor and viciously attack any enemies that they encounter. The intelligent hippogryphs have given their allegiance to the Night Elves in honor of Cenarius, a demigod who stood as the protector of nature and all of its creatures. In the MMORPG, World of Warcraft, they are the main Alliance flying mount on Kalimdor. In Warcraft III, Night Elf Archers have the Mount Hippogryph ability.

Raptors

With huge claws, sharp teeth, and a savage nature, these bipedal reptiles seem to be the top predators in Azeroth. They are found in Durotar, The Barrens, the Arathi Highland, and other places across Azeroth and Kalimdor. Trolls use larger tamed specimen as mounts.

Raptors in Warcraft are actually sentient animals, much like gnolls or furbolgs. However, they're not as advanced as a civilization as a whole. Raptors live in tribes with the strongest female and male being the alpha leaders. Raptors decorate themselves with primitive jewelry made from feathers and bones. They're on par with the Wyverns in terms of having a society. However, where the Wyverns value honor and nobility Raptors value the hunt and savagery. This is most likely why the Trolls domesticated them.

Wyverns

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These flying creatures are based on Manticores, having the body of a lion, the wings of a bat and the tail of a scorpion. They are indigenous to the Stonetalon Mountains and Thousand Needles on the continent of Kalimdor and are tamed by the Taurens at Freewind Post to be used as transportation for members of the Horde. In the World of Warcraft MMORPG, they are the main flying mount for the Horde on Kalimdor.

Wyverns are actually sentient animals much like quilboars and furbolgs. However, they are much less advanced as a society. They value honor and nobility. In Warcraft III, they were rescued from a tribe of harpies by the Orcs. In gratitude, they let the Orcs ride them into battle against the Humans they thought would disturb their homelands.

Demonic Races

These races are the minions of the Burning Legion, and were otherwise corrupted.

Doom Guards

See main article Doom Guards.

Doom Guards were the elite guard of Archimonde, the Defiler, a combination of destructive magic and brute force. After their master's death, it is believed that some of the Doom Guards broke from the fold and are working more akin to mercenaries. However, they are probably in the minority, as there are still many Doom Guards at the Burning Legion's beck and call.

In the World of Warcraft game, Warlocks at level 60 can summon a Doom Guard through use of either the Ritual of Doom or the Curse of Doom spell.

Curse of Doom deals 3200 damage after 60 seconds. If this damage kills the creature, it has a small chance of summoning a doomguard directly on top of the warlock, which it begins to attack. It must be enslaved using the Enslave Demon spell, which consumes a soul shard even if it is resisted.

Ritual of doom requires a Demonic Figurine and a full group to summon. When it is finished channeling, it consumes the reagent and a random party member's life. It may even kill the summoning warlock, so this is the least preferred method. This method also requires the Enslave Demon spell.

Considering the rather lackluster strength of the summonable Doom Guards at present, and factoring in their costly summoning requirements, they are considered an undesirable pet for the Warlock to summon, and revisions were slated for patch 1.9. The pet is still undesirable post-patch.

It was said by a Blizzard CM that these as well as infernals will probably remain indefinitely undesirable.

Eredar

The Eredar are an ancient race of Demons. For some time it was believed they came from the Twisting Nether, but now it is known that they originally came from a world known as Argus and before being corrupted by Sargeras into their demonic form were the same race as the Draenei. They are skilled sorcerers and warlocks. The most powerful of the Eredar were Kil'jaeden and Archimonde chosen by Sargeras the fallen Titan, to be his lieutenants.

Originally, Blizzard lore writer Chris Metzen said that Sargeras defeated the demonic Eredar when he was still a Titan fighting for justice and order, but their evil shocked and depressed him, eventually becoming the core reason of why Sargeras wants to destroy all life. However, this has changed. Metzen now says that Sargeras came across the mortal Eredar when he already became evil, offering them power in return for eternal service to him. Two of their three leaders, Kil'jaeden and Archimonde, accepted the offer on behalf of their entire race. Sargeras then changed the Eredar into powerful and immortal demons. Metzen realized his mistake thanks to Warcraft fans pointing it out. He has apologized profusely on the Blizzard forum for the continuity error, but also said that the new Eredar origin must still be considered canon.

While Kil'jaeden appeared as a demon in Warcraft II, the Eredar came back with a greatly expanded background in Warcraft III. While not entirely playable, one can purchase a few Eredar to fight for them from mercenary camps.

Until Blizzard released the details of the expansion pack, Eredar were widely believed to be the new Alliance race in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. At E3 2006, Blizzard announced the Draenei as the new Alliance race. Although the Draenei shown look very similar to the Eredar, they look nothing like the Draenei in Warcraft III. It is revealed that the Draenei were originally a group of noble Eredar (led by the third Eredar leader, Velen) that fled Argus with the help of the Naaru when their race joined Sargeras and his Burning Legion. The Draenei seen in Warcraft III were only a subset of Draenei who were mutated by the fel magics of the Orcs. Most Draenei actually look like the original Eredar.

The word Draenei means "Exiled Ones" in Eredan, and the Eredar have no love for the Draenei, who they feel betrayed them by not joining Sargeras.

Felhounds

Felhounds are demon hounds used by the Pit Lords to sniff out sources of magic wherever they may be found. Felhounds, who feed upon magic itself, are fond of draining the energies of hapless wizards and then ripping their bodies to shreds.

In the World of Warcraft MMORPG, Warlocks can summon a Felhunter demon pet, which is basically the same thing as a Felhound, and is a good spellbreaker. Warlocks gain this pet at level 30.

Fel Guards

The Fel Guard made up the bulk of the Burning Legion's forces during the first invasion of Azeroth. They are large, brutish demons, similar in appearance to Orcs but much taller. They normally wield great axes or swords. They are also used as guards of many of the demonic places in Azeroth, and although they have many disadvantages compared to Doom Guards or Infernals, they comprise the bulk of the Legion's forces.

Gargoyles

The dreaded gargoyles of Northrend are voracious flying creatures who revel in slaughter and mayhem. The Lich King, leader of the undead Scourge, brought them under his control to fight for him. They have rough, crystalline hides which protect them from many attacks, and in case this is not enough, in times of danger gargoyles can condense their hides into a stone-like surface. They are also able to regenerate while in this stone form.

Imps

While there are many variants of the Imp, and it is available to the Warlock to be summoned at level 2 in the World of Warcraft MMORPG (after a small quest chain), its origins and details are very little, other than it and most of its variants are servants/creatures of the Burning Legion. Some variants of the Imp in World of Warcraft have been listed as Humanoids as well, such as the Vile Familiars in the Valley of Trials, Durotar, although these Vile Familiars still serve the Burning Legion.

The imp is the only Warlock pet in World of Warcraft that does not require a soul shard.

Infernals

Infernals are giant golem-like demons, made of dark stone and green demonic flame, which can be summoned by powerful warlocks. They exist only to destroy every living thing in their paths and take pleasure in tearing all mortals they encounter limb from limb. Fast-moving and enveloped in flame (granting them immunity to fire), they are some of the deadliest creatures to face in the Warcraft universe.

Warlocks can learn to summon them at level 50.

Nathrezim

The Nathrezim, or Dreadlords, are vampiric winged demons allied with the Burning Legion. While they had existed in Warcraft lore for some time, it was not until Warcraft III that they were introduced into the game. They were tasked by Kil'jaeden to keep watch over his unwilling puppet, the Lich King Ner'zhul. Many prominent Dreadlords played parts in the events of the Third War, notably Tichondrius, Anetheron, Mephistroth, Balnazzar, Varimathras, Detheroc, and Mal'ganis. Mal'ganis was killed by Arthas at the behest of Ner'zhul. Later, Arthas (now driven mad and acting as the right hand of Ner'zhul) manipulated Illidan Stormrage into consuming the Skull of Gul'dan and killing Tichondrius. Anetheron was slain at the Battle of Mt. Hyjal, while Mephistroth's current whereabouts are unknown. Arthas intended to kill Balnazzar, Varimathras, and Detheroc when Illidan Stormrage and his cohorts threatened the Lich King's existence, forcing Arthas to withdraw to Northrend. Sylvanas Windrunner then took Varimathras captive, offering that he become her slave or die. Together they killed the other two, despite Varimathras's insistence that it was forbidden for the Nathrezim to kill one another. It would appear that Balnazzar's death was a ruse, however, as he has been sighted in the headquarters of the Scarlet Crusade, leading many to believe that he was in charge of the entire operation, and that Varimathras may not be as loyal to Sylvanas Windrunner as he seems.

For more information see Dreadlord.

Pit Lords

Main article: Pit lord

The Pit Lords who served under Mannoroth the Destructor are some of the most cruel, barbarous butchers to ever roam the trackless wastes of the Twisting Nether. These hulking engines of hate and death live only to kill and bring sorrow to all living creatures. Fanatically loyal to Mannoroth, the Pit Lords will stop at nothing to see the will of the Burning Legion upheld. Their current leader is unknown, as Mannoroth was slain by Grom Hellscream and his successor, Azgalor, was slain during the battle of Mt. Hyjal. Pit Lords are powerful creatures that wield chaotic and brutal magic from the Twisting Nether. Pit Lords were conscripted into the burning legion by Archimonde.

Satyrs

Former Highborne who practiced demon magic prior to the destruction of the World Tree. They left the Night Elf civilization and have since developed goat-like features such as hooves and horns. While Highborne, they were the greatest spellcasters in all of Night Elven civilization before their corruption. Lord Xavius was the first Satyr, dying as a Night Elf to Malfurion Stormrage, only to be brought back to life by Sargeras. Hiding in the darkest corners of Ashenvale forest, Satyrs awaited the return of the Burning Legion to unleash their vengeance on the Night Elves, joining with the corrupted Treants and Ancients.

Succubi

A race of female vampire-like demons, similar to the Nathrezim but smaller, Succubi are one of the races enslaved by the Burning Legion. While significantly less powerful than their masters, Succubi still possess deadly magical powers. Ruled by 'the Mistress of Pain', Succubi are part of the forces of the Pit Lord Magtheridon and plague regions of Outland. In the MMORPG, World of Warcraft, warlocks can summon a Succubus at level 20, after a chain of quests leading to the learning of the Summon Succubus skill. The Succubus is a direct-damage dealer and "crowd-controller", meaning that it has skills to temporarily subdue one or many enemies in order to ease pressure on a player when outnumbered.

It is likely that the Succubi are actually the females of the Dreadlord race. Also, they both share very similar qualities. This includes vampirism, wings, hoofs, and horns. They prefer to attack with finesse and stealth rather than charging blindly into battle.

Void Walkers

Void Walkers are wraith-like demonic creatures with a blue body, somewhat resembling an elemental. Like succubbi, void walkers are another of the demon races enslaved by the Burning Legion and are under the command of the Pit Lord Magtheridon. They are made purely from shadows, and can absorb shadows around them to "mend" any wounds they receive in combat. However, being made from shadow means that they cannot hit too hard. They underwent a phase change from Warcraft III to World of Warcraft, from spiky demons to round elemental-like shapes.

Void Walkers are the Warlock's main 'tank' minion in the game World of Warcraft. The spell is learned at level 10 as part of a short quest chain.

Further contributing to their similarity to elementals, there death animation is similar to an elemental. (There body dissapears leaving their shackles behind)

Dragons

Frost Wyrms

Dying Blue Dragons traditionally fly to the land of Northrend to die. When Ner'zhul the Lich King took control of Northrend, he used his powers to raise the residents of the vast Dragon graveyards to do his bidding. They possess breath as cold as the bitter winds of Northrend. In this new age, the Scourge plans to kill all the dragons in the world with their plague and turn them into Frost Wyrms.

Black Dragons and Dragonspawn

Led by the mad leviathan, Deathwing the Destroyer (formerly known as Neltharion the Earth Warder), the Black Dragons plan to destroy all other races and Dragons, the Burning Legion, and the Scourge to rule the world with their view of perfection. Deathwing used to be allied with the other Dragons, but an artifact he created (the Demon Soul) drove him mad with arcane magic.

Khaz'goroth, the Titan shaper and forger of the world, bestowed some of his vast power upon the mighty black wyrm, Neltharion. The great-hearted Neltharion, known afterwards as the Earth-Warder, was given dominion over the earth and the deep places of the world. He embodied the strength of the world and served as Alexstrasza's greatest supporter. Black dragons breath consists of blasts of molten lava rather than pure fire.

Red Dragons and Dragonspawn

The Red Dragons were devastated by Neltharion's betrayal. Deathwing led an orc to the Demon Soul, because he couldn't use it himself when the other Aspects (flight leaders) cast a spell on him. The Orcs used it to trap the Dragonqueen Alextrasza the Life-Giver and steal her eggs to give a new force to the Horde.

Eonar, the Titan patron of all life, gave a portion of her power to the red leviathan, Alexstrasza. Ever after, Alexstrasza would be known as the Life-Binder, and she would work to safeguard all living creatures within the world. Due to her supreme wisdom and limitless compassion for all living things, Alexstrasza was crowned the Dragonqueen and given dominion over her kind. It is thought that Alexstrasza is the "Earth Mother" that the Tauren speak of.

Blue Dragons and Dragonspawn

All the Blue Dragons, aside from Malygos the Spell-Weaver, were killed in the War of the Ancients, but when Alextrasza was freed from the Orcs after the Second War, she gave the maddened Malygos some of her eggs to revive his flight.

The breath of blue dragons is freezing cold rather than the usual fire.

Norgannon, the Titan lore keeper and master-magician, granted the blue dragon, Malygos, a portion of his vast power. From then on, Malygos would be known as the Spell-Weaver, the guardian of magic and hidden arcanum.

Bronze Dragons and Dragonspawn

Nozdormu, the Timeless, rules over the Caverns of Time, the realm of the Bronze Dragons. He was also maddened by Deathwing's betrayal and decided to keep a collection of important artifacts. He claimed that even Deathwing will one day become part of his collection. Like Malygos, he has regained his sanity.

Bronze Dragons have a breath of lightning aside from fire.

Aman'Thul, the Highfather of the Pantheon, bestowed a portion of his cosmic power upon the massive bronze dragon, Nozdormu. The Highfather empowered Nozdormu to guard time itself and police the ever-spinning pathways of fate and destiny. The stoic, honorable Nozdormu became known as the Timeless One.

Green Dragons and Dragonspawn

They live in the Emerald Dream and can control people's dreams in a limited way, although only the Green Dragons know their limits. Night Elf Druids can also walk the Emerald Dream while hibernating and this has led to a close relationship between these races. Tauren druids can enter the Emerald Dream as well. Ysera the Dreamer is their queen. Eonar also blessed Alexstrasza's younger sister, the lithe green dragon Ysera, with a portion of nature's influence. Ysera fell into an eternal trance, bound to the waking Dream of Creation. Known as the Dreamer, she would watch over the growing wilds of the world from her verdant realm, the Emerald Dream. Green Dragons have a breath of acid rather than fire.

More recently, the Emerald Dream has fallen into turmoil, and a foul taint has spread inside. This taint twists all life it touches, including those of the Green Flight. Ysondre and her most trusted have felt the touch of corruption, and now fight all who venture close. Below is a listing of the twisted dragons.

Lethon's exposure to the aberration within the Emerald Dream not only darkened the hue of the mighty dragon's scales, but also empowered him with the ability to extract malevolent shades from his enemies. Once joined with their master, the shades imbue the dragon with healing energies. It should come as no surprise, then, that Lethon is considered to be among the most formidable of Ysera's wayward lieutenants.

A mysterious dark power within the Emerald Dream has transformed the once-majestic Emeriss into a rotting, diseased monstrosity. Reports from the few who have survived encounters with the dragon have told horrifying tales of putrid mushrooms erupting from the corpses of their dead companions. Emeriss is truly the most gruesome and appalling of Ysera's estranged green dragons.

Taerar was perhaps the most affected of Ysera's rogue lieutenants. His interaction with the dark force within the Emerald Dream shattered Taerar's sanity as well as his corporeal form. The dragon now exists as a specter with the ability to split into multiple entities, each of which possesses destructive magical powers. Taerar is a cunning and relentless foe who is intent on turning the madness of his existence into reality for the inhabitants of Azeroth.

Once one of Ysera's most trusted lieutenants, Ysondre has now gone rogue, sowing terror and chaos across the land of Azeroth. Her formerly beneficent healing powers have given way to dark magics, enabling her to cast smoldering lightning waves and summon the aid of fiendish druids. Ysondre and her kin also possess the ability to induce sleep, sending her unfortunate mortal foes to the realm of their most terrifying nightmares.

Sprite Dragons and Faerie Dragons

Though not actual Dragons, they police the Emerald Dream from magic. They are immune to magic and when out of the Emerald Dream, have the ability to phase into it for a short duration, evading damage. They resemble small, brightly colored lizards with wings.

Nether Dragons

Very little is known about the extremely magical dragons that live within the Twisting Nether. Apparently not existing on Azeroth, the nether dragons seem to exist in Outland. They are black, but with outlines of color such as green, blue and red. They are just as powerful as any other form of dragon. In the Burning Crusade the Nether dragon or Nether Drake will be used for the level 70 flying mount. It is stil unsure if this is for both The Alliance and The Horde.

Elementals

Elementals were the first creatures to appear on Azeroth. Azeroth was created by a sect of "Old Gods". Chaotic and destructive, they worshiped the Old Gods, but the gods were defeated by the Titans. The Titans took Azeroth because of a deep hatred for anything evil, and the Old Gods were described as "unimaginable evil." When they took rule, the Titans brought order and prosperity to a new Azeroth, where countless races and creatures were able to come into existence.

There are about 6 kinds of elementals. Earth elementals which are made up of floating bits of stone, and sometimes used as minions for some centaur and the Kirin Tor. Fire elementals have burning bodies and are able to attack from a distance with fire, and are extremely hard to kill by physical attacks, because fire is hardly tangible. There are Water Elementals which are commonly summoned by mages and wizards, and can cast Ice spells. While not pictured, Wind Elementals appear as small funnel clouds, they tend to have slashing abilities, and exist throughout the Arathi Highlands, Desolace and Silithus. Molten Elementals are based on lava with shale bodies, appearing similar, but not quite like earth elementals, and use fiery attacks; they can be seen in ex-Redridge Mountains, including Searing Gorge, Burning Steppes, and Molten Core. 'Arcane' Elementals are can be seen in Dire Maul. This elementals of Twisting Nether can easily destroy mana-based classes like mages by burning mana, and of course, are immune to arcane magic.

They are ruled by the Elemental Lieutenants: Ragnaros the Firelord (fire elemental), Therazane the Stonemother (earth elemental), Al'Akir the Windlord (air elemental), Neptulon the Tidehunter (water elemental).

One thing to note is that these elementals are in fact not a part of the Burning Legion. Though demons can be controlled by Warlocks, elementals can't be controlled by players, but are used as minions of NPCs. Elementals will fight the demons of the Burning Legion as well as the beings that inhabit Azeroth. They are merely trying to restore their masters (the old gods) to power and to free their elemental lieutenants (mentioned above) so these can once again rule the world.

Water Elementals seem to be a bit more passive, and players can get quests from certain ones, these quests generally involve attacking fire elementals.

Humanoid Races

The humanoid races are the more human looking races. Unlike beasts, they will likely run from battle when they realize they are near death or in danger. Humanoids typically wield clubs, swords, and other kinds of weapons although some humanoids specialize in hand-to-hand or magical combat. Forsaken players can use the caniblize ability on most humanoids.

Centaurs

The natural enemies of the Tauren, legends say they are the bastard offspring of Cenarius, a Night Elf demigod who also fathered the Keepers of the Grove and dryads. Whether or not this is true, it is certain that they are savagery and brutality incarnate. The centaur constantly raid and terrorize cities of The Barrens. In appearance they have the body of a horse and the torso of a human where the neck and head should be. The centaur have a savage and bloodthirsty nature and are wary of any person that is not a centaur. The centaur especially hate the Tauren, and by extension, the orcs.

These horse-men hail from Desolace in western-central Kalimdor, but tribes of them are spread throughout much of central Kalimdor, including: The Barrens, Thousand Needles and Durotar. In the past they have ceaselessly terrorized the villages of the indigenous peoples, and have now extended their hatred to include the orcs and trolls of the Horde. The tauren claim that the centaur have always existed to scourge the land. Legend holds that Zaetar, immortal son of Cenarius and the earth elemental princess, Theradras, sired the misbegotten centaur race. It is said that upon their emergence, the barbaric centaur turned on their father and killed him. Some believe that Theradras, in her grief, trapped Zaetar's spirit within the winding caverns of Maraudon - using its energies for some malign purpose. The subterranean tunnels are populated by the vicious, long-dead ghosts of the Centaur Khans, as well as Theradras' own raging, elemental minions.

Crypt Fiends

These are large, mummified creatures in the Warcraft universe that look like a mix between humans and spiders, and are members of the Nerubian spiders. Their lower bodies are supported by six spindly arachnid limbs and their heavily bandaged torsos are human in form. The Crypt Fiends were once the dwellers of the ancient spider kingdom of Azjol-Nerub that spanned the entirety of Northrend in ancient times. However, the Nerubians' power base was destroyed by the Lich King, Ner'zhul, when he and his undead Scourge took control of the frozen continent. Now the former Nerubians, now known as Crypt Fiends, command their spider underlings for the sake of their master, Ner'zhul. These aberrant creatures are capable of summoning swarms of vile insects and projecting web-like strands to incapacitate and harm their enemies.

Draenei

The Draenei are one of the three primary races that inhabited Draenor before the coming of the Burning Crusade (the other races being the Orcs and the Ogres) and the shattering of the planet. They once populated the planet heavily, but were slaughtered by the Orcs shortly after their corruption by the Warlock Gul'dan. Draenei means "exiled ones" in their native language because of their Eredar heritage when they left their old homeworld to escape the Burning Legion who were hot on their tails. This race is meant to be superior in melee combat.

Dryads

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Half deer and half-night elf in appearance, Dryads are the frolicking daughters of Cenarius. Like their Keeper brothers, Dryads are protectors of the Ashenvale forest and have joined the Sentinels to defend nature from those who dare to defile it. Weaker than Keepers, Dryads are nonetheless immune to magic.

Dwarves

Main article: Dwarves (Warcraft)

The 'Earthen', one of the races created by the Titans when they shaped Azeroth, was greatly affected when the Well of Eternity exploded. They locked themselves into their underground chambers and went into a comatose state, refusing contact with the outside world. One group, however, woke up early for a reason as yet unknown, and they lost their stone skin and power over rock and earth. They called themselves the Dwarves and built the city of Ironforge. Up to the War of the Three Hammers, the three clans - the Bronzebeards, Wildhammers and Dark Irons - lived relatively peacefully in Ironforge until King Anvilmar died, leaving no heir. This began a civil war of enormous proportions, all three attempting to take the throne of Ironforge as their own. Eventually the Bronzebeards won, forcing the other clans out of the kingdom.

The Wildhammers recovered from this and built their own city of Grim Batol in the Wetlands. The Dark Irons did not recover quite so well, however, and resolved to destroy both the Bronzebeards and the Wildhammers in a single, two pronged attack. Though Grim Batol suffered heavy casualties and the death of its king, both forces of Dark Irons were repelled and brought to the edge of destruction in an ambush, the survivors fleeing to the Redridge Mountains. The warlock queen of the Dark Iron dwarves who went to grim batol was killed, but her evil magic cursed Grim Batol, forcing the Wildhammer Dwarves to leave. They were not finished yet, however, and attempted to bring back a powerful being to aid them in their cause - Ragnaros. Though they succeeded in summoning the evil monster, their leader and many others died in the aftermath, burned to a cinder by Ragnaros' power or enslaved to do his bidding. When Ragnaros was summoned a large crater was carved in the once peaceful Redridge Mountains, creating Searing Gorge on one side and Burning Steppes on the other side, and in the middle of it was Blackrock Mountain, in which the Dark Iron dwarves created a large fortress. The land around them became a burned wasteland rather reminiscent of the land of Mordor in Lord of the Rings. The Wildhammer clan, fearing that Grim Batol was irrevocably cursed, left the Wetlands for Lordaeron, where they built Aerie Peak above ground on the mountains of the Hinterlands, refusing to have anything else to do with the underground lairs of their brethren and forefathers.

And so the Bronzebeards claimed the entirety of Khaz Modan as their own, though still trading with the Wildhammers, with whom they attempted to mend their relationship. During the Second War, the Humans were able to convince the Bronzebeard Dwarves of Khaz Modan to aid them in the war effort. The Horde overran Khaz Modan, but the Alliance was able to liberate it once again. It was then that King Magni Bronzebeard vowed that the Ironforge Dwarves would forever owe a debt to the Alliance.

Elves

One of the oldest races in the world, they were once the dominant race on Azeroth, but they have since been suplanted by the more competitive Humans and Dwarves. It is rumored that elves are in fact decendants of ancient Trolls who were magically transformed by the power eminating from the Well of Eternity. To this day lesser magic wells called Moonwells play a prominent roll in the culture and religion of the elves. There are three Elven types on Azeroth, the Night Elves, High Elves and Blood Elves.

Night Elves

Night Elves are one of the oldest races on Azeroth. They have deep lavender skin, glowing eyes, long ears, and blue, purple, silver, or green hair. In their own language, they are called the Kaldorei ("children of the stars"). The elves originated on the continent Kalimdor. Satyrs, Harpies, Naga, and the High Elves descended from them.

High/Blood Elves

Night Elves with an addiction to arcane magic became the offshoot known as the High Elves. They were originally followers of Queen Azshara and helped her in her research of magic and demons. Azshara, feeling they were inherently superior to her subjects who did not practice magic, named her followers "Quel'dorei," meaning "Highborne." Azshara and the Highborne were responsible for the invasion of the Burning Legion and for the destruction of the Well of Eternity, a highly magical and sacred lake which once stood in the center of Ancient Kalimdor. Only a few Highborne survived the explosions from the destruction of the Well, and they joined the Night Elves fleeing to the continent of Kalimdor. The Highborne, seeing that their dreams of magical power could never be realized under the rule of their magic-hating brethren, went into self-imposed exile to create a new, magical civilization for themselves. They found such a place across the sea, on the continent of Lordaeron. Traveling the continent for centuries, the Highborne slowly began to look less and less like the other Night Elves on Kalimdor, owing to the harsh conditions they faced in their new home and on natural evolution. They finally settled in the North, and were responsible for the destruction of the great troll empire. Upon the introduction of Humans from the south, the High Elves (as they were now called) joined forces with the Humans, and welcomed them to their kingdom of Quel'Thalas.

After Arthas, the traitorous human prince, had been corrupted through picking up the cursed runeblade Frostmourne, he set out on a campaign to erase all the forces who might oppose the Burning Legion before it was summoned. When erasing the nation of the High Elves he managed to kill two birds with one stone; he defeated one of the nations mighty enough to repell the Burning Legion and he got to use the High Elves Sunwell, from which they got their magical abilities, to raise the Lich Kel'Thuzad.

A sizable number of High Elves survived the destruction of their homeland and, while most became the corrupted-magic-wielding Blood Elves, a very small number joined Jaina Proudmoore's expedition to Kalimdor and currently live on Theramore Isle, being able to please their addiction to magic with the Night Elf Moon Wells, while looking down on the Blood Elves, who turned to demonic magic to survive. It has been announced that the Blood Elves will be the new race for the Horde faction in the MMORPG World of Warcraft. They mostly reside in the ruined city of Quel'Thalas and have the goal to venture to Outland to regroup with Prince Kael.

The name of a particular group of the High Elves that survived the destruction of Quel'Thalas is the Blood Elves. They adopted the name in memory of their fallen brethren and turned to corrupted magic and drew upon demonic forces to avenge their lost kingdom. Most of them were left in charge of the defense of Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas to drive out the Undead, led by Prince Kael'thas. The racist Human general in charge of the force, Lord Garithos, despised the Elves, and sought to force them into actions for which he could justifiably kill them. He finally recalled all Human and Dwarven units to the front line, leaving only the meager Elf forces to defend against the rampaging Scourge. Garithos' plan was to force the Elves into alliance with the Naga, whom he had seen talking to Kael'thas earlier. His plan worked; with no other options, the Blood Elves were forced to ally with the Naga, an action Garithos had specifically forbidden. He subsequently had them imprisoned in the ruins of Dalaran, where they were eventually freed by the Naga. Upon escape, they agreed to travel with the Naga to Outland, where they hoped to find the Naga's master, Illidan Stormrage, to ask his help in finding a cure for their racial addiction to magic. Other Elves, those that survived Quel'Thalas's destruction and didn't fall to the primal rage that fueled the Blood Elves' descent into dark magic, now consider the Blood Elves to be not only traitors to the Grand Alliance, but also a stain upon the memory of their fallen brethren. Confirmed to be the next Horde race in the Burning Crusade expansion pack, the Blood Elves have reoccupied the surviving lands of Quel'thalas and regained much of their strength.

Ethereals

Treading the chaotic spaces between worlds, the ethereals are astral travelers who dwell within the Twisting Nether. They are known to be collectors and traders of arcane items and artifacts. Now drawn to Outland, many ethereals are seeking to track down its treasures and steal them back into the Twisting Nether. They are liars and scoundrels who will stop at nothing to pursue their mysterious aims. The ethereals have no care at all for the Burning Crusade. They would even play both sides of the conflict against each other if doing so would serve to further their own goals.

Faceless Ones

In Warcraft 3: the Frozen Throne, Arthas and the Crypt Lord, Anub'arak, trekked to Icecrown to defend the Lich King from Illidan and the army of Naga he had amassed. As they worked their way through the underground kingdom of the Nerubian, Azjol-Nerub they encountered still living Nerubian freedom fighters and dwarves left over from Arthas' previous trip to Northrend. As they entered even deeper into the caverns, they also encounter what the Dwarf leader Balegun referred to as "horrors" that had been released by Illidan's recently caused earthquakes. Humanoid creatures with tentacled arms and faces called the Faceless Ones were found as well as one massive creature of which we only see it's giant tentacles, similar to various creatures from the books of H.P. Lovecraft.

Anub'arak's statements during this adventure suggest that there is some ancient and forgotten race that was buried underground, of whom only myths reached the Nerubian people. The Nerubians are descended from the ancient Aqir people; the prospect of an even earlier race raises many questions. This is the only time they have appeared in the Warcraft universe and thus little is known about them.

Hakkar the Soulflayer, an immense Blood God worshiped by a group of trolls in the Swamp of Sorrows, is often called a "Faceless One", however there is no evidence about Hakkar and the Faceless Ones being related at all

Furbolgs

Furbolgs are ursine humanoids. They reside in tribes, and were peaceful allies of the Night Elves until the coming of the Burning Legion, when many were affected by the corruption they brought and turned evil. The Timbermaw tribe were supposedly the only tribe to escape the corruption. Their tribe now has been forced into hostility due to an increasing show of violence towards them as they are mistaken for corrupted. Around 10,000 years before the Furbolg race fought the Burning Legion alongside the Night Elves, Tauren and Earthen. The Ursa Warriors are the Furbolg elites.

Goblins

Main article: Goblin (Warcraft)

The Goblins are a neutral race in the World of Warcraft and tend to do everything for profit. However prior to that, during the great wars they sided with the Horde and still currently favor the Horde. They are green-skinned and the same height as Gnomes. Most goblins are engineering geniuses, but appear to have an insane side to their personality. Goblins are not always neutral; many are employed by the Black dragonflight and were responsible for welding plates onto the scales of Deathwing. More recently, they assisted Nefarian in his creation of the Chromatic dragonflight.

Golems

Golems are magical or mechanical constructs of materials such as rock or mud resembling humanoid giants. Due to their tremendous strength, immunity to magic, and lack of a need to sleep, Golems are employed by wizards to guard special locations from intruders. Golems are often used by the Dark Iron Dwarves within the Burning Steppes and Blackrock Depths.

Gnolls

One of the younger races of the world, Gnolls inhabit much of Lordaeron. Although somewhat intelligent, the hyena-like humanoids often spend their time fighting with each other over things such as "whose shadow is larger." It has been said that if the Gnolls were able to stop fighting each other and organize an army, they would be quite a fearsome race.

Gnolls are commonly found as members of various mercenary and pirate organizations across the world. There is one tribe serving the Scourge, two other tribes serving humans and many Gnolls serve Goblins. However, as of yet there are no known organizations of Gnolls serving the Alliance or Horde. While native to Lordaeron, there are a couple Gnoll tribes in western Kalimdor. It is currently unknown how the Gnolls have spread to these far reaches.

Gnolls are related to dwarves in that they also descended from the Earthen, according to the platinum disks recovered from Uldaman.

Some Gnolls wield clubs while others arm themselves with crossbows and they often come in small groups.

Gnomes

Main article: Gnomes (Warcraft)

The Gnomes are the super-advanced race of Warcraft. Though the Dwarves, who live near the Gnomes' former home of Gnomeregan, also have some advanced technology, the Gnomes provided them with some of the more critical designs for Dwarven weapons and tanks. They provided the Alliance with some of their inventions and personnel during the Second War, but in the Third war they did not send any actual personnel to fight. Only after the war did the rest of the Alliance discover that the Gnomes had been under attack by an enemy called the Troggs. Not wanting to further burden the other races during the Third War, they fought alone. Ultimately, they could not drive the Troggs from their home and released large amounts of radiation as an attempt to kill the Troggs and evacuated the city. This left about half of the Gnomish population alive to flee to Ironforge, the kingdom of the Dwarves.

Gronn

Monstrous. Cyclopean. Terror incarnate. Words cannot begin to describe the terrible gronn of Outland, the immortal demigods of the ogre race. Some say the gronn gave rise to the lesser ogres, yet if so, they show but little love for their children, as the savage brutes lord over the ogre clans with an iron fist. There are said to be only seven gronn in all of existence, and they are not famed for their intelligence. Nonetheless, such rumors are cold comfort in light of the undeniable fact that the gronn wield devastating power.

Harpies

Harpies have the head and torso of a woman, but instead of arms and legs they have wings and bird feet with sharp talons. They nest on high peaks, or in basket structures hanging from trees. They might be related to the elves. There seem to be only female harpies.

Humans

Main article: Human (Warcraft)

Humans have typically been the "good guys" in the Warcraft saga, being constantly thrown into battle with the savage orcs in the first two games. However, in Warcraft III, with the orcs as a "good" race, and two new races (night elves and undead), their distinction as the "noble humans" has been blurred.

The humans are a relatively young race when compared to the older races, such as the night elves. The humans take pride in their so called "nobility" and construct great cities and monasteries to show the rest of the world their grand power of the light.

However, the humans are known to be easily corrupted and misled. The greatest example is Arthas, who fought the undead tirelessly. After a great deal of corruption and leading, he eventually became the ultimate leader of the scourge, and king of the undead.

Keepers of the Grove

The Keepers of the Grove are among the offspring of Cenarius. Along with their sisters, the Dryads, they fought alongside the Night Elves against the Burning Legion when the latter invaded Azeroth. To this day, they keep watch over Kalimdor and stand vigilant against any other possible threats to Azeroth.

Kobolds

Rat-like humanoids who infest tunnels and mines. They try to stay away from larger, more powerful races, as they are traditionally rather cowardly. Kobolds have a rather big obsession for mining and digging, and their religion mostly bases itself on the earth. The spellcasters of their race mostly focuses on Geomancy, and some Kobolds are known to craft Golems from dirt and rocks.

Of all the things one can mine from the earth, Kobolds seem to like Gold the most. Some even go to such lengths that they ally themselves with other races, like the Kobolds of Westfall are allied with the Defias. When Thrall, the leader of the Horde, entered a dungeon in Stonetalon Mountains to find the Oracle, he discovered and slew a gang of Kobolds, led by a Kobold "Mastermind", which shows that some Kobolds actually form gangs and syndicates of their own.

Magnataurs

Magnataurs the northern relatives of centaurs, with the torso of a neanderthal and the hindquarters and tusks of a wooly mammoth. They carry large spears.

Makrura

Hostile lobster-like humanoids with limited intelligence that live in the oceans of Azeroth. Not much is known about them, although they may be an offshoot of the Aqir race, like the Nerubians and Silithid.

Mountain Giants

Created by the Titans during their visit to Azeroth, Mountain Giants are gentle, gigantic humanoids of rock, and possess almost limitless strength as well as immunity to magic. Awakened from their slumber by Malfurion Stormrage after the invasion of the Burning Legion they now protect the forests of Kalimdor.

Mountain Giants continue to grow from the day they are born until they become too heavy to bear their own weight. At this point, they will settle down and over time, become mountains.

Murlocs

Main article: Murloc

Murlocs resemble bipedal, amphibious Fish, that can be found amongst pretty much all shorelines in Azeroth. They are one of the older races of Azeroth, though new to Lordaeron. Their intelligence is hard to truly tell, as their gurgling speech is near impossible to decipher, but the fact that they use weaponry and build huts and homes implies that they may be more intelligent than many think. Some Murlocs have begun moving into other territories such as the Elwynn Forest, due to being driven out of their home, The Swamps Of Sorrow, by the newly arrived Draenei.

Naga

Main article: Naga (Warcraft)

The Naga are snake-like humanoids that inhabit a region of the Great Sea known as the Maelstrom. They were once Highborne, Night Elf mages, that allied themselves with Queen Azshara and the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancients. When the Well of Eternity imploded and swallowed vast portions of Kalimdor, including the Night Elf capital of Zin-Azshari, many of the Highborne were swept under the waves. Azshara, in desperation, made a pact with the Old Gods that transformed her and her followers into the Naga. A large number of naga, led by Lady Vashj, allied with Illidan's forces and reside in Outland, the remnants of the original home of the orcs. These Naga seem to be rogues of their race, working with Illidan. There was no official pact between the Nazjatar (the home city of the Naga, under the sea) and Illidan, and thus they are not officially sanctioned.

Nerubians

Nerubians are a race of sentient spider-like people that inhabit the continent of Northrend. They once had a great underground empire, Azjol-Nerub, that occupied most of the continent and perhaps even above. However, with the coming of the Lich King it was only a matter of time before they were destroyed, although they were at first immune to the scourge. When they attacked the Lich King's citadel, the majority of Nerubians were wiped out and resurrected by him, with only a few pockets of resistance remaining. Although he almost annihilated the entire race, the Lich King was impressed by their bravery and battle prowess and, to honor them, adopted their distinctive architectural style as the basis for his future army, the Scourge. He also resurrected most of the Nerubians he had killed, turning them into Crypt Fiends and Crypt Lords. They were once the same race as the Qiraji but their kingdom divided thousands of years ago to become Azjol-Nerub in the northeast, home of the Nerubians, and Ahn'Qiraj in the southwest, home of the Qiraji. Anub'Arak was their king, before being enslaved by the Lich King against his own free will. Some Nerubians are rumored to still live in Northrend, with the hopes of one day rebuilding their ancient kingdom.

The Nerubians are consider one of the most likly races to join the horde in a Northrend expansion, however considering the shape of their bodies and the fact they posses six legs this would present numerous technical difficulties, as well as the amount of time for Blizzard to make skin files for players whould be rather large, nevertheless, they are a popular candidate for a Northrend expansion.

Ogres

Main article: Ogres (Warcraft)

Ogres are a savage race from Draenor, though the presence of numerous tribes in the Dustwallow, Tanaris, and Feralas regions of Kalimdor suggests that they may have existed on that continent since before the first opening of the Dark Portal. They are huge and strong, but tend to be stupid, fat, and slow. Many have two heads, especially casters. They followed the Orcs through the Dark Portal into the world of Azeroth. During the First War, they were little more than destructive brutes, hazards to both sides. But between the First and Second War, the Ogres were recruited into the Orcish Horde by the Warlock Gul'dan to replace the now-disbanded Wolf Riders as heavy cavalry. It is as this point, due to Gul'dan's experiments, that the Ogre Magi appeared — the powerful body of an Ogre with the mind of a slain warlock implanted in one or both heads. The Ogres left the Horde after they lost the war, and decided to leave peacefully. Most became traders as many also made their own clans.

Orcs

The Orcs are a savage, but noble, race from the planet Draenor who became corrupted by a demonic force known as the Burning Legion. Under the legion's influence, the Orcish Horde slaughtered the Draenei, another race inhabiting Draenor, and then were led to the world of Azeroth. After two devastating wars, the Orcs were finally defeated on Azeroth, and rounded up into internment camps, until a young Orc named Thrall rallied them together, and finally broke the Horde free from demonic influence and helped them return to their shamanistic roots. Draenor was shattered, due to the Portals created by Ner'zhul, who later became the Lich King. Azeroth would have also, but the Heroes of Warcraft II journeyed to Draenor and destroyed the Portal, saving Azeroth. It is hoped that if the Portal can be reopened some of the heros may have survived the destruction and can return home.

Pandaren

Main article: Pandaren

Pandaren are humanoids that resemble Giant Pandas. Their homeland is Pandaria, an isolated and well-hidden island off the coast of Kalimdor. Pandarens are generally isolationists, and very few ever leave the island. Those that do are strong warriors with a mastery of martial arts techniques; the typical Pandaren fighting style in our universe would be a mix of Zui Quan (drunken boxing) and Shaolin staff techniques. Pandarens also have an extreme fondness for alcoholic beverages (both creating and consuming them); those that do leave the island are often Brewmasters, wandering the world in search of new and exotic ingredients in their ale creations. The Pandarens are a shamanistic race very similar to the Tauren in this regard. They strive to remain neutral in those rare dealings they may have with outside races.

The origin of the name Pandaren is unknown, but it is worth noting that the Chinese word for man is "ren", thus making the name "Panda-man" if taken literally in Chinese.

The conceptual origins of the Pandaren race can be traced to an April Fools joke [link] announcing the Pandarens as a new playable race in . However, the overwhelming and positive fan response to the joke caused it to take on a life of its own, and eventually Blizzard retconned the Pandaren race into the Warcraft story. The Pandaren race made its debut in Frozen Throne as a neutral hero, the Pandaren Brewmaster. Blizzard later provided background information on the Pandaren in the Alliance and Horde Compendium sourcebook for .

Pandarens would later be featured in a second April Fools joke in World of Warcraft, announcing a take-out Chinese cuisine service called Pandaren Xpress which could be accessed from inside the game. This was a parody of EverQuest II's /pizza command, which would open a web browser to order pizza. The Pandaren were long believed to be the fifth Alliance race in , until the announcement on May 10, 2006 that the fifth Alliance race would be the Draenei.

Pandaren would've become the Alliance race, says Jeff Kaplan, lead designer of Blizzard Entertainment, but they believed it fit much better with the lore to have Draenei, along with them being attached to Outland.

Quilboars

Quilboars are creatures that resemble bipedal boars. They posed a problem to the orcs who had settled in perpetual war. The Quilboar of Razorfen Downs, the Razormane tribe, have considered an alliance with the undead Scourge though the current status of their pact in the story is unknown. The other Quilboar tribe, the Bristlebacks, are at war with them. Quilboars have shamanistic societies, and many of them are skilled geomancers and hunters.

Silithids

A race previously unknown to those of Lordaeron, Azeroth, and Kalimdor, little information is available on the Silithid. All that is known is that they live in Silithus, south of Kalimdor, and they are related to the Nerubians. There is an ancient wall in southern Silithus named The Scarab Wall, behind which lies Ahn'Qiraj, which a 40-man raid instance in World of Warcraft. There is also a 20 man Ahn'Qiraj.

The Night Elves, under Archdruid Fandral Staghelm, fought a war against the Silithids many years prior to the emergence of the first humans. The Night Elves were on the edge of defeat, losing their outpost of Southwind Village and Staghelm's son in the process, and retreating westward, when they discovered that the Silithids were hesitant to go past Fire Plume Ridge in Un'goro Crater. Staghelm took this respite to attempt to enlist the help of the dragonflights. However, they only agreed when the Silithids brazenly attacked the Caverns of Time, the home of the Bronze Dragonflight. With the sacrifice of the children of the red, blue, and green aspects, Staghelm and the Bronze Dragonflight was able to seal the Silithids behind the Scarab Wall. Anachronos, as the representative of the Bronze Dragonflight, offered Staghelm the Scepter of the Shifting Sands, the artifact required to reopen the gate to Ahn'Qiraj, but he refused it, instead hurling it at the wall, shattering it.

The Trolls, however, have an extensive knowledge on the ancestors of the Silithids, the Aqir.

Tauren

Main article: Tauren

The Tauren are a minotaur-like race with a fierce warrior tradition. They are about twice as big as a man and when fighting prefer to wield totem poles nearing the size of an old oak tree stem or axes. The Tauren are known for their passion for nature and honor. They are led by the great chieftain, Cairne Bloodhoof. Cairne allied with the Thrall's Orcs when they came to Kalimdor, and defeated the Centaur, claiming Mulgore as their own. They founded Thunder Bluff, the great Tauren city, where the Tauren have attained tranquility. In their own language, the Tauren are called the Shu'halo. Their principal goddess is the Earth Mother, the ruler of the earth.

The Tauren were introduced to Warcraft in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. Originally there was only a hero (Tauren Chieftain) and a unit (Tauren). In the expansion, , the magical Spirit Walker was added. The Spirit Walkers are White Tauren, and as such they are believed to be the ill omen of a coming age, and are held in near reverence by their people, often becoming reclusive priests who wander the land in search of kindred spirits. The Tauren are also a playable race in the MMORPG World of Warcraft.

Titans

The metallic-skinned gods who ordered the world and created all the life of Azeroth besides the elementals, who were there already. They also chained the evil "old gods" of the elementals under ground.

After creating Azeroth, they then proceeded to imbue certain powers to the five Dragonflights. The Titans, also known on Azeroth as "the Creators", made the Earthen. The Earthen evolve to either Dwarves or Trogg. An account of this action is documented on the Discs of Norgannon, named after the Titan of Lore Norgannon. The discs, along with a brief history and explanation, are located at the end of Uldaman, an instance in the MMORPG World of Warcraft.

Sargeras, the Dark Titan, is not a Titan of the Pantheon. He deserted the Pantheon after being driven mad by demons and the evil and corruption they possessed.

Treants

Treants are enormous enchanted beings whose bodies are born from the living trees of Kalimdor. They are tremendously strong and resilient to even the strongest blows. In times of great peril, they can be seen emerging from their shadowy forests to protect the land from evil corruption. Some, however, were tainted and corrupted by the Burning Legion ages ago. The corrupted Treants wish only to spread their corruption and hate for living things.

Troggs

Troggs are primitive humanoids that inhabit Dun Morogh, Loch Modan and Gnomeregan among other places. They are often found living in caves and resemble cavemen.

When the Titans first came to Azeroth, they created a race of humanoids, the Earthen, to help them shape the world. After the creation of the Earthen, anomalies due to high-stress environments were discovered. These anomalies resulted in a degeneration of the Earthen into two forms - Troggs and Dwarves. The Troggs maintained the stamina and strength of their Earthen predecessors, but almost all their cognitive powers were lost in favor of force of will and strong cunning. Troggs will consume anything they can obtain, including stones and other Troggs. According to the Lorekeepers of Norgannon, due to these characteristics the Titans, when they return, will consider them abominations and destroy them.

Recently, Dwarven excavations of Titan ruins have awakened the Troggs, who have proceeded to invade Dwarven lands and even drive the Gnomes from their beloved capital of Gnomeregan.

Trolls

Main article: Trolls (Warcraft)

In the current Warcraft universe, there are multiple types of trolls, each in their own tribe. It is speculated that a small group of Trolls are what were drawn to the Well of Eternity and evolved into Night Elves, although the Night Elves fiercely deny this. Trolls are thin, cunning and agile, with pointed features, rather than hulking brutes like traditional trolls. Before the time of multiple tribes of trolls, they were at one time united in the Gurubashi and Amani Empires that encompassed much of Azeroth. The Amani eventually attacked the Elven kingdom of Quel'thalas and seemed to almost destroy it. However, when the elves allied with the human state of Arathor, the combined might of the two armies destroyed the trolls, along with the Amani empire. It was this defeat that led to the division of the trolls into their particular tribes. The five types are:

Dark Trolls

Dark Trolls are dark purple in color and live in Ashenvale forest. Although they appear extremely hostile to the Night Elves, a band of dark trolls assisted in fighting the Burning Legion on Mount Hyjal. This type of troll has yet to make an appearance in World of Warcraft.

Forest Troll Tribe

Main article: Forest Trolls

Under their leader Zul'jin, they allied with the Orcs during the Second War. They were enemies with the High Elves, who took their land when they were exiled from Kalimdor and landed in Quel'thalas. Since the Elves were allied with Humans, an alliance between the Orcs and Trolls was logical. They are savage, and very much into ritual sacrifices and cannibalism. They are green in color, and it is unclear whether they still serve the Horde, though this is unlikely since the Blood Elves would probably not join a faction containing one of their ancient enemies (who haven't changed), and in the tutorial campaign in Warcraft III (featuring the Orc race), Thrall and his orcs can find a group of Forest Troll creeps and fight them, with Thrall saying "Forest Trolls. It shames me to think they were ever a part of the Horde." If, somehow they do still serve the Horde, they are held in distrust by many Orcs, who dislike them for their choice not to aid the Orcs while they were imprisoned in the Internment Camps.

Ice Trolls

Main article: Ice Trolls

The Ice Trolls are huge and light blue, adapted for life in extremely cold climates. They can be found in Northrend, as well as in cold, mountainous regions of Khaz Modan. They also pratice cannabilism.

Jungle Trolls

Main article: Jungle Trolls

Jungle Trolls are blue-skinned, and originate from Stranglethorn Vale, a jungle south of Azeroth. They practice voodoo, dark magic, and cannibalism. The Darkspear Tribe was exiled from its home of Stranglethorn Vale by the other tribes because they refused to engage in the beastly nature that commonly defines their kind. After Thrall and his newly reformed Horde rescued the tribe from Murlocs and their sea witch leader, the tribe swore eternal allegiance to the Horde. First they settled on the echo Isles, but after being driven out by the crazed troll witch doctor, Zalazane, they now reside with the Orcs in Durotar, off the coast parallel to the Echo Isles in the Sen'jin Village. Vol'jin, a shadow hunter, is their leader. Aside from the Darkspears, the Skullsplitters among other tribes remaining in Stranglethorn Vale have re-united under the evil rule of the resurgent Blood God Hakkar the Soulflayer, who now resides in the ancient city of Zul'Gurub. Thus, the Gurubashi Empire has begun to reassemble itself at last, despite the fact that it is once again under the vicegrip rule of a Quetzalcoatl-like evil being.

Sand Trolls

The Sand Trolls live in the desert region of Tanaris. They have pink skin tones and act as marauders. They live in a great temple in the desert where they worship dark gods. They have a friendly relationship with the Jungle Trolls and Forest Trolls that worship Hakkar, however they are not themselves worshipers of this dark god.

Tuskarr

Humanoid walrus-like creatures who can be found in Northrend. Not much is known about them, although it is said that they have light lore connections to the Alliance.

Undead (The Forsaken)

Main article: Undead (Warcraft)

Main article: The Scourge (Warcraft)

Main article: The Forsaken (Warcraft)

See also : http://www.wowwiki.com/Undead

The horrifying Undead army called the Scourge consists of thousands of walking corpses, disembodied spirits, damned mortal men and insidious extra-dimensional entities. The Scourge was created by the Burning Legion for the sole purpose of sewing terror across the world in anticipation of the Legion's inevitable invasion. The Undead are ruled by Ner'zhul, the Lich King, who lords over the icy realm of Northrend from his frozen throne. Ner'zhul commands the terrible plague of undeath which he sends ever southward into the human lands. As the plague encroaches on the southlands, more and more humans fall prey to Ner'zhul's mental control and life-draining sickness every day. In this way, Ner'zhul has swelled the ranks of the already considerable Scourge. Though Ner'zhul and his Undead Scourge are bound to the will of the Burning Legion, the Lich King constantly strives to free himself and gain vengeance upon the demons for damning him so completely. Having broken free from the tyrannical rule of the Lich King, a renegade group of undead seek to retain their own free will while destroying all those who oppose them. Known as the Forsaken, this group is dedicated to serving their leader, the banshee queen Sylvanas Windrunner. These dark warriors have established a secret stronghold beneath the ruins of Lordaeron's former capital city. Situated deep beneath the cursed Tirisfal Glades, the labyrinthine Undercity is a sprawling bastion of evil. Within its shadowy confines, Sylvanas' royal apothecaries scramble to develop a devastating new plague - one which will not only eradicate their hated Scourge rivals, but the rest of humanity as well. To further their dark aims, the Forsaken have entered into an alliance of convenience with the primitive, brutish races of the Horde. Holding no real loyalty for their newfound comrades, the Forsaken have duped them into fighting against their common enemy - the Lich King. Only time will tell how these disciples of doom will fare in their mission of vengeance

Wendigos

Savage humanoids living in cold places Dun Morogh and Northrend. They look like giant apes with claws, curly horns, and white hair. Their appearance is similar to that of the Yeti or Abominable Snowman. It's possible that the name is derived from the Windigo or Wendigo giant, found in the folklore of some Algonquian peoples.

Wildkin

Bear like humanoids with the heads and wings of owls, and antlers (also called Moonkin or Owlbears). Generally peaceful, but if roused are very powerful. They were created by Elune to guard her most sacred places. Druids are able to transform into moonkin to increase their strength in nature and arcane power.

Note: One Wildkin in the first Night Elf Campaign in the Frozen Throne taunted the player's troops when they ran away in the cut scene by flapping it's wings like a chicken.

Wisps

At the Battle of Mount Hyjal, the mortal races of Azeroth banded together in a desperate bid to stall the advance of the Burning Legion. The combined might of their armies fought valiantly against the demonic onslaught, but slowly, inexorably, they were pushed back. Even the massive force gathered at the base of the mountain could not stop the demons' climb. On the steep slopes of Mount Hyjal, Archimonde gave the world a taste of the true power of the Burning Legion's fury. The Defiler himself led the vanguard, crushing all who stood in his way, determined to reach the World Tree at the mountain's peak. In the end, only one power was strong enough to destroy the insidious Archimonde: the Wisps.

Just as the orcs, humans and night elves discarded their old hatreds and stood united against a common foe, so did nature herself rise up to banish the shadow forever. The Legion lost one of its leaders, and the mortal races of Azeroth won a brief respite. Yet as the unknown threats of Outland loom ever closer, and hushed whispers of a Burning Crusade can be heard in the darkest, most secret corners of the world, the night elven druids have once again sounded the Horn of Cenarius, summoning the ancient spirits of the forests to aid the Alliance in their hour of need. The wisps have long been deeply connected with the night elves, and will do all in their power to protect their now-mortal Kaldorei allies in this new and dangerous frontier beyond the Dark Portal. Even though they are commonly believed to be purely benign spirits of the night elves' sacred forests, a part of the primal energy that was used to destroy the terrible eredar warlord slumbers in all wisps. Should a wisp decide that its time has come, it can unleash all its energy in one devastating detonation. Although this can potentially turn the tide of battle, the wisp's energies will dissipate beyond any hope of recovery; the wisp's detonate ability is the ultimate sacrifice. A heavy cost; but the wisps, the ancient guardians of nature, pay it gladly.

Wisps were featured in the 2006 April Fool's joke when Blizzard Entertainment announced that Wisps would be the new playable race for the Alliance side. This news was greeted with equal parts outrage and bemusement until Blizzard stated the obvious: it was just a joke.

Worgen

The creatures known as Worgen physically resemble folkloric werewolves. They were first summoned into the world of Azeroth by a Night Elf known as Valinda Starsong, after discovering an artifact called the Scythe of Elune. With it, she was able to call the Worgen into the world under her command. She used them to fight the corruption of the Burning Legion in Felwood, but, eventually, the Scythe worked on its own, calling more and more Worgen to Azeroth. Valinda lost the Scythe, and it was eventually rediscovered in Duskwood by a Defias henchman known as Jitters. This summoned the Worgen into the area, creating one of the area's major infestations of evil. Jitters also witnessed the butchering of a farming family by creatures known as Dark Riders, who are rumored to live and be controlled by a dark master in the ruined tower of Karazhan. This master is seeking the Scythe, no doubt to call forth an army of the wolfmen.

A second influx of Worgen was summoned by the archmage Arugal during the beginnings of the Scourge in Lordaeron. Arugal intended to use the worgen as a tool to fight the Scourge, which proved to be successful, for a time. Ultimately, Arugal's magic was far too weak to control the Worgen fully, causing them to break free and wildly kill his countrymen. Arugal's failure and guilt over the death of his friends led to madness, as he began to think of himself as the "father" of the Worgen. His most recent experimentation has lead to a town near to Shadowfang Keep to be infected with a curse that causes the human residents of the town to change into deadly Worgen at night.

Warcraft Universe
Humans | Dwarves | Gnomes | Night Elves | Orcs | Tauren | Trolls | The Forsaken | Draenei Undead | Goblins | Pandaren | High Elves | Blood Elves | Ogres | Murlocs | Naga
| | Races | Locations | Characters | Organizations | Items

 

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